Gruff voice . . . Yes. I too got to meet Elvin. He was playing at Showcase in Chicago. Was Frank Foster with Elvin? Can't recall. Elvin is thunder and triplet time . . . Awesome experience ! During first set break, I meekly walked up to him. He was still sitting behind his drums. What to say? What can you say . . . just a quick and oh-so-humble, ''Love your playing, Elvin.'' . . . Deep within his throat and chest, that growl. Can't remember his actual words, but, close to your own experience, ''Thanks, man.'' His vibe was gracious. Honestly, I think it was Jazz Showcase, but, the place had to move two/three times. This was the mid 70's after I'd quit music school, the year after Chaffee left Western Illinois U. for Berklee. Western was Gary's first teaching gig, and I was dumb lucky to have studied with him for just 9 months. Wertico was there, too, for one semester - sooooo young, Paul was. But, supremely talented and with a massive collection of albums. Paul sat in with Cannonball's group for one or two tunes during a clinic concert. Afterward, the story I heard from other students was that Paul said to Roy, ''Man, I'm hurtin' . . . Cats are stuck in the mud.'' McCurdy urged him to head back to Chicago and just play gigs. Metheny came calling some time later. Paul and 7 Grammies later. Wertico played on WIU's Jazz Band album. Many years later I approached Paul in Rockford, Illinois - my hometown. Paul was setting up his own drums . . . I approached the stage, held up that album and called Paul's name. He took one look at that album and immediately came over to sign the back of the sleeve. I'm wandering off track of topic. Sorry. There had been an interview in the Chicago Trib before his appearance in Rockford. I asked Paul about, ''I'm hurtin' man . . . Cats are stuck in the mud.'' Paul looked a bit embarrassed, quickly changed the subject, but, signed the album. Paul's name had been mispelled and Paul wrote a referece to that typo, ''Must have been another Paul Wertico.'' Quite a show that day - a massive, yearly outdoor festival called, ''On The Waterfront''. Larry Coryell was his guitarist . . . or the other way around . . . Paul was Coryell's drummer. Back to Elvin - Did Elvin (consistently) play on the back edge of 'time' in your opinion? So, you were at Berklee . . . Chaffee had left there after 5 years, then toured the world with, I think - Mick Goodrick and guys like that. He played at Royal Albert Hall on one tour, and also conducted clinics in Europe. In my months at Western, Gary taught ''Down Up technique'', as well as playing vertically. He didn't really talk a lot of linear playing, at that time, but, did teach sticking variations and ''playing with infinite flexibility''. Chaffee : Vinnie, Steve Smith, and for that one semester at Western, Wertico. So many other great drummers.
Really love your UA-cam lessons. Really enjoyed seeing Elvin Jones years ago. Never missed him he came to Boston at the Jazz Workshop. One of my best memories is when my brother,Charlie Banacos, got to sit in with him at the Workshop.
Hi Von.. I'm 67 I've been playing since 1964 ... started playing Full time on my 14th birthday.. Anyways I spent 7 days in Montreal With Elvin Jones & My Teacher Ronny Page who was Elvins Best Buddy.. Many Many Stories.. Oh Yeh I was 11 when that happened.. Elvin was going through a Hard Time So he came to stay with Ronny here in Montreal...
Wow! That must have been a great experience. By all accounts, he was gracious an kind man. If you've got any stories you'd like to share, please feel free. We'd all love to read them!
Elvin was a Great Man ..! When my teacher was on his death bed in Montreal I was around 19 & living in Nyc... I came up to montreal to stay with Him.. Elvin flew from Japan to stay with ronny in the hospital...so we both Elvin & I stayed in Ronny's Apt....Ronny passed a week later Long Sad Story . I went back to nyc & Elvin Hugged Me & Tried to pick me up , We said goodbye & decades later Elvin was playing at The Bluenote in Nyc & went to see & HEAR Him & He Was Very Frail But He Still tried to Pick me up....He Was Very special & he Knew he was Dying .....I Have Tons Of Elvin on Buddy Rich At one time they hated each other...LOL !
I got to see him and meet him backstage once after a gig at Jazz Alley, Seattle, in 2000. Such an amazing person, so primal and yet so cultured and intellectual. I asked him who he listens to, thinking wow whoever Elvin likes on the drums, must really be the shit. He responded, smiling, with that gravelly voice, 'Um, well... Bach... Brahms, you know...' I just stood there dumbfounded lol. Love him. Will always be my favorite ever.
Great video, and I met Elvin too, at Ronnie Scott's in London, I went to the front of the queue with my Brazilian wife of the time and we were escorted to the back stage where elvin gave me a big bear hug, I gave him some photos my brother had taken of him and sat down at the bar with a whiskey as i was drinking back then and a fat cigar, when we could smoke in pubs and clubs. Elvin at a drum clinic in Birmingham the week before where Mr.Jones had shown a group of college kids how he would practice , the 5 stroke roll into the 7 into the 9, a master at work. Now thinking back I would have had a bash on his kit had I known now what I do about the legend that is Mr.Elvin Jones , should be made a sir and given a knighthood in my opinion. Thank you for sharing. ❤
Great story and thanks for taking time to both watch my video and share your personal Elvin experience! I love it when a great player is also a great person. That was my impression of him too. So kind and wanted share the joy of drumming with the World.
Ah man! Elvin! I must have listened to The Real McCoy a thousand times when I first got into jazz drumming years ago. I didn't do many exercises like this... just listening. It gets in you after a while but it takes time. You gotta get his vibe and feel and his attitude!
Ryan thanks so much! Elvin Jones had that "thing" in his swing. I love it so much and I'll tell you, it really feels great to play. Are you able to Elvin-ize your swing?
When I was a student at North Texas - then called NTSU, he came as part of the Jazz Artist Lecture Series. The morning of, I was asked to play with him. I had spent the last couple of years prior working on my sight reading with a method using my left and right feet on beats 1 and 3 so I had the recovery to be back in on the next measure if I missed something. Stopping was not an option with that approach. I had to employ that with Elvin! I was practically marching. It was like being a novice surfer caught out with the biggest wave in history and it was incredible. We played Softly as in a Morning Sunrise and it was exhilarating! We played a few more tunes and he talked. I was so amazed at having lived through the moment playing with him that sadly, I cannot remember what he said. Mostly people were asking about playing with Coltrane as you might expect, and he was not really much of a lecturer. Mostly he played, but what an experience.
Great story and thanks for the sharing! I wish I had the chance to spend that much time with Elvin. His energy and enthusiasm for drumming and music was so infectious. What an incredible opportunity for you. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Yes! I love how he would lead us to the edge of the time have us float for a bit and then pull us back to Earth. Truly incredible. Thanks for commenting and for sharing. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Oh, Von, that is it, thanks a lot. An excellent insight to Elvin's drumming. The vibe is certainly there in that sample of yours. I have a few questions. You say it's okay it's start off with the juicy stuff, meaning things like Elvin Jones style and approach. But is there a relationship between more foundational knowledge of jazz drumming, like the accent on 2 and 4, steady ride pattern perfected, without much variations (I love variations, the skipping off-beat notes), feathering the bass drum (did Elvin feather the bass drum? Seemed to me I never saw that). And then the more usual comping (whatever it is). And then when we master the foundations, can we move to more advanced style, like Elvin's? Is it best to have both styles in your pocket and go between then as needed and wanted. I watch a lot of Willie Jones III, an amazing drummer, but he seems to me more like a representative of straight ahead approach to jazz drums. Secondly, the exercise you show us here is what is called a rolling triplet, with the second and third note of the triplet played on the snare drum, and accented last note beats 2 and 4 on both ride and snare? Is my reading correct?
Thanks Mobby for watching and for your questions! I'll do my best to answer them. 1. Definitely get the basics down first. Learning the basics will give you the coordination, timing, feel, dynamic control and other details you need to make an Elvin groove sound good. 2. I'm not sure about Elvin feathering the kick. Anyone else want to jump in here? My thinking is that he probably didn't do that so much. He loosened up Jazz drumming and "broke" rules to play what he heard in his head. 3. Yes, I guess this is a "rolling triplet" thing. Not sure about labels, just like what Elvin played and tried to incorporate it into my playing. What you described is what I wrote out on the free PDF "Elvinize Your Swing": jazzdrumschool.com/drum-sheet-music Hope all that helps. If you're looking to get your basics together, check out my Jazz Drumming Basics Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/beginner-drumming Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Thanks! Maybe I remembered it wrong. I think it was pretty gruff that night but at any rate, yes I could sense the humility and love he had for music and drumming. 🤙
Great drum heads by the way, I used to used those same kind and I recently tried to buy one for my ludwig limited edition snare drum as I think the remo fiberskyn would fit it nicely giving a fat yet distinctive high end rustic sound that only comes with that skin , I can't find it to buy in Brazil where I'm currently living. It's a shame #remo @remo fiberskyn ❤
Thanks Dan for this comment too! I live in Japan but often order things from Amazon in the US to be shipped to me. Do you have a UK Amazon account? If so, you might be able to order it from the UK and have it shipped to you in Brazil. Here's a US affiliate link for the heads that might redirect you to the UK Amazon.com: amzn.to/48oqGT6 Hope you're able to get them. Keep swinging my friend!
It looks like you have natural skin heads. Correct? I heard Elvin twice: once in around 1972 at Slugs with McCoy Tyners band, and the second at the Village Gate in the late 90s. Always incredible. Somewhere, there’s an article about his visit to the Zildjian cymbal factory. I can’t find it.
Thanks Henrique for watching and for the comment! I'm using a Yamaha Direct Drive Pedal: amzn.to/3mpqy1K Buying through my affiliate link is a convenient way to get your gear and an easy way to support my UA-cam channel. Thank you and keep swinging my friend 🤙
Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, Elvin was his own drummer and paved the way for many of us to explore our own sound too. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Thank for the question and for watching! They're actually mylar heads that look, feel and play like calfskin heads. Here are affiliate links to check out the 2 types of these heads I use: 1. Remo Fiberskyn: amzn.to/3BklgMA 2. Evans Calftone: amzn.to/3ZrRca3 Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Kevin thanks so much for watching and for question and kind words! I'm using Remo Fiberskyn drum heads. They're my first choice. Here's another video about these heads and their use with brushes: ua-cam.com/video/B6Q_KZcQNWA/v-deo.html Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Gruff voice . . . Yes. I too got to meet Elvin. He was playing at Showcase in Chicago. Was Frank Foster with Elvin? Can't recall. Elvin is thunder and triplet time . . . Awesome experience ! During first set break, I meekly walked up to him. He was still sitting behind his drums. What to say? What can you say . . . just a quick and oh-so-humble, ''Love your playing, Elvin.'' . . . Deep within his throat and chest, that growl. Can't remember his actual words, but, close to your own experience, ''Thanks, man.'' His vibe was gracious. Honestly, I think it was Jazz Showcase, but, the place had to move two/three times. This was the mid 70's after I'd quit music school, the year after Chaffee left Western Illinois U. for Berklee. Western was Gary's first teaching gig, and I was dumb lucky to have studied with him for just 9 months. Wertico was there, too, for one semester - sooooo young, Paul was. But, supremely talented and with a massive collection of albums. Paul sat in with Cannonball's group for one or two tunes during a clinic concert. Afterward, the story I heard from other students was that Paul said to Roy, ''Man, I'm hurtin' . . . Cats are stuck in the mud.'' McCurdy urged him to head back to Chicago and just play gigs. Metheny came calling some time later. Paul and 7 Grammies later.
Wertico played on WIU's Jazz Band album. Many years later I approached Paul in Rockford, Illinois - my hometown. Paul was setting up his own drums . . . I approached the stage, held up that album and called Paul's name. He took one look at that album and immediately came over to sign the back of the sleeve. I'm wandering off track of topic. Sorry. There had been an interview in the Chicago Trib before his appearance in Rockford. I asked Paul about, ''I'm hurtin' man . . . Cats are stuck in the mud.'' Paul looked a bit embarrassed, quickly changed the subject, but, signed the album. Paul's name had been mispelled and Paul wrote a referece to that typo, ''Must have been another Paul Wertico.'' Quite a show that day - a massive, yearly outdoor festival called, ''On The Waterfront''. Larry Coryell was his guitarist . . . or the other way around . . . Paul was Coryell's drummer.
Back to Elvin - Did Elvin (consistently) play on the back edge of 'time' in your opinion?
So, you were at Berklee . . . Chaffee had left there after 5 years, then toured the world with, I think - Mick Goodrick and guys like that. He played at Royal Albert Hall on one tour, and also conducted clinics in Europe. In my months at Western, Gary taught ''Down Up technique'', as well as playing vertically. He didn't really talk a lot of linear playing, at that time, but, did teach sticking variations and ''playing with infinite flexibility''.
Chaffee : Vinnie, Steve Smith, and for that one semester at Western, Wertico. So many other great drummers.
Really love your UA-cam lessons. Really enjoyed seeing Elvin Jones years ago. Never missed him he came to Boston at the Jazz Workshop. One of my best memories is when my brother,Charlie Banacos, got to sit in with him at the Workshop.
Thanks for watching and for sharing your Elvin experience. Such a great man and musician. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Hi Von.. I'm 67 I've been playing since 1964 ... started playing Full time on my 14th birthday.. Anyways I spent 7 days in Montreal With Elvin Jones & My Teacher Ronny Page who was Elvins Best Buddy.. Many Many Stories.. Oh Yeh I was 11 when that happened.. Elvin was going through a Hard Time So he came to stay with Ronny here in Montreal...
Wow! That must have been a great experience. By all accounts, he was gracious an kind man. If you've got any stories you'd like to share, please feel free. We'd all love to read them!
Elvin was a Great Man ..! When my teacher was on his death bed in Montreal I was around 19 & living in Nyc... I came up to montreal to stay with Him.. Elvin flew from Japan to stay with ronny in the hospital...so we both Elvin & I stayed in Ronny's Apt....Ronny passed a week later Long Sad Story . I went back to nyc & Elvin Hugged Me & Tried to pick me up , We said goodbye & decades later Elvin was playing at The Bluenote in Nyc & went to see & HEAR Him & He Was Very Frail But He Still tried to Pick me up....He Was Very special & he Knew he was Dying .....I Have Tons Of Elvin on Buddy Rich At one time they hated each other...LOL !
I got to see him and meet him backstage once after a gig at Jazz Alley, Seattle, in 2000. Such an amazing person, so primal and yet so cultured and intellectual. I asked him who he listens to, thinking wow whoever Elvin likes on the drums, must really be the shit. He responded, smiling, with that gravelly voice, 'Um, well... Bach... Brahms, you know...' I just stood there dumbfounded lol. Love him. Will always be my favorite ever.
Thanks for sharing your awesome Elvin story! A man loved for both his musicianship and spirit. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Great video, and I met Elvin too, at Ronnie Scott's in London, I went to the front of the queue with my Brazilian wife of the time and we were escorted to the back stage where elvin gave me a big bear hug, I gave him some photos my brother had taken of him and sat down at the bar with a whiskey as i was drinking back then and a fat cigar, when we could smoke in pubs and clubs. Elvin at a drum clinic in Birmingham the week before where Mr.Jones had shown a group of college kids how he would practice , the 5 stroke roll into the 7 into the 9, a master at work. Now thinking back I would have had a bash on his kit had I known now what I do about the legend that is Mr.Elvin Jones , should be made a sir and given a knighthood in my opinion.
Thank you for sharing. ❤
Great story and thanks for taking time to both watch my video and share your personal Elvin experience! I love it when a great player is also a great person. That was my impression of him too. So kind and wanted share the joy of drumming with the World.
Ah man! Elvin! I must have listened to The Real McCoy a thousand times when I first got into jazz drumming years ago. I didn't do many exercises like this... just listening. It gets in you after a while but it takes time. You gotta get his vibe and feel and his attitude!
Awesome! Thanks for watching and for commenting! I agree, it just seeps down into your bones! Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Bad-ass Elvin impression! 🔥🔥🔥
Ryan thanks so much! Elvin Jones had that "thing" in his swing. I love it so much and I'll tell you, it really feels great to play. Are you able to Elvin-ize your swing?
My man you were jazzing out! Swinging for the fences. Nice lesson, thanks so much.
Fred thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! I'm glad you enjoyed. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
When I was a student at North Texas - then called NTSU, he came as part of the Jazz Artist Lecture Series. The morning of, I was asked to play with him. I had spent the last couple of years prior working on my sight reading with a method using my left and right feet on beats 1 and 3 so I had the recovery to be back in on the next measure if I missed something. Stopping was not an option with that approach. I had to employ that with Elvin! I was practically marching. It was like being a novice surfer caught out with the biggest wave in history and it was incredible. We played Softly as in a Morning Sunrise and it was exhilarating! We played a few more tunes and he talked. I was so amazed at having lived through the moment playing with him that sadly, I cannot remember what he said. Mostly people were asking about playing with Coltrane as you might expect, and he was not really much of a lecturer. Mostly he played, but what an experience.
Great story and thanks for the sharing! I wish I had the chance to spend that much time with Elvin. His energy and enthusiasm for drumming and music was so infectious. What an incredible opportunity for you. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Elvin's "Avalanche Roll with free-fall acceleration" distorts time and space.
Yes! I love how he would lead us to the edge of the time have us float for a bit and then pull us back to Earth. Truly incredible. Thanks for commenting and for sharing. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Oh, Von, that is it, thanks a lot. An excellent insight to Elvin's drumming. The vibe is certainly there in that sample of yours. I have a few questions. You say it's okay it's start off with the juicy stuff, meaning things like Elvin Jones style and approach. But is there a relationship between more foundational knowledge of jazz drumming, like the accent on 2 and 4, steady ride pattern perfected, without much variations (I love variations, the skipping off-beat notes), feathering the bass drum (did Elvin feather the bass drum? Seemed to me I never saw that). And then the more usual comping (whatever it is). And then when we master the foundations, can we move to more advanced style, like Elvin's? Is it best to have both styles in your pocket and go between then as needed and wanted. I watch a lot of Willie Jones III, an amazing drummer, but he seems to me more like a representative of straight ahead approach to jazz drums. Secondly, the exercise you show us here is what is called a rolling triplet, with the second and third note of the triplet played on the snare drum, and accented last note beats 2 and 4 on both ride and snare? Is my reading correct?
Thanks Mobby for watching and for your questions! I'll do my best to answer them.
1. Definitely get the basics down first. Learning the basics will give you the coordination, timing, feel, dynamic control and other details you need to make an Elvin groove sound good.
2. I'm not sure about Elvin feathering the kick. Anyone else want to jump in here? My thinking is that he probably didn't do that so much. He loosened up Jazz drumming and "broke" rules to play what he heard in his head.
3. Yes, I guess this is a "rolling triplet" thing. Not sure about labels, just like what Elvin played and tried to incorporate it into my playing. What you described is what I wrote out on the free PDF "Elvinize Your Swing": jazzdrumschool.com/drum-sheet-music
Hope all that helps. If you're looking to get your basics together, check out my Jazz Drumming Basics Course: jazzdrumschool.com/course/beginner-drumming Keep swinging my friend 🤙
My friend. actually Elvins voice was rather soft. He spoke quietly and with deep humility.
Thanks! Maybe I remembered it wrong. I think it was pretty gruff that night but at any rate, yes I could sense the humility and love he had for music and drumming. 🤙
Great drum heads by the way, I used to used those same kind and I recently tried to buy one for my ludwig limited edition snare drum as I think the remo fiberskyn would fit it nicely giving a fat yet distinctive high end rustic sound that only comes with that skin , I can't find it to buy in Brazil where I'm currently living. It's a shame #remo @remo fiberskyn ❤
Thanks Dan for this comment too! I live in Japan but often order things from Amazon in the US to be shipped to me. Do you have a UK Amazon account? If so, you might be able to order it from the UK and have it shipped to you in Brazil.
Here's a US affiliate link for the heads that might redirect you to the UK Amazon.com: amzn.to/48oqGT6 Hope you're able to get them. Keep swinging my friend!
It looks like you have natural skin heads. Correct?
I heard Elvin twice: once in around 1972 at Slugs with McCoy Tyners band, and the second at the Village Gate in the late 90s. Always incredible. Somewhere, there’s an article about his visit to the Zildjian cymbal factory. I can’t find it.
Thanks Daniel for your comment here too and I totally agree! One of my favorites of all time!
great video, what is your drum pedal?
Thanks Henrique for watching and for the comment! I'm using a Yamaha Direct Drive Pedal: amzn.to/3mpqy1K Buying through my affiliate link is a convenient way to get your gear and an easy way to support my UA-cam channel. Thank you and keep swinging my friend 🤙
🔥🔥🥁🙏
Manolete thanks so much! Keep swinging deep my friend 🤙
@@jazzdrumschool I look forward to seeing you in class next week.
I like Elvina playing. Thx!
Thanks for watching and commenting! Yes, Elvin was his own drummer and paved the way for many of us to explore our own sound too. Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Very interesting !!! Thanks Von !!! 😊
Always my pleasure Gilles! Thanks for watching 🤙
I saw Elvin play about 40 times.....
Wow, so lucky! Thanks for your other comment too and keep swinging my friend 🤙
PLESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great! Dance on my friend!
It looks like you have natural skin heads. Correct?
Thank for the question and for watching! They're actually mylar heads that look, feel and play like calfskin heads. Here are affiliate links to check out the 2 types of these heads I use:
1. Remo Fiberskyn: amzn.to/3BklgMA
2. Evans Calftone: amzn.to/3ZrRca3
Keep swinging my friend 🤙
Fabulous .. what heads r u usin there fella !? They sound goooooood as does your playin 🙂🙃
Kevin thanks so much for watching and for question and kind words! I'm using Remo Fiberskyn drum heads. They're my first choice. Here's another video about these heads and their use with brushes: ua-cam.com/video/B6Q_KZcQNWA/v-deo.html Keep swinging my friend 🤙
@@jazzdrumschool is that diplomats or ambassadors !? They sound wonderful 😍
Sorry Kevin for the late response! I use Ambassadors on my snare, floor tom and bass drum and a diplomat on my rack tom. Hope that helps🤙